[Birdtalk] UCB Pinyon Juniper Field Trip

[Milt Moody]

12 May 2007
SW Utah County

Saturday morning 14 Utah County Birders reluctantly passed up lots of
birding activity in good birding spots (not easy to do) on their way to
the Pinyon Juniper habitat of the Tintic Mountains west of Utah Lake.

Before turning off on the Chemney Rock Road, we saw a BURROWING OWL on
a mound at about mile post 1 (a traditional spot) along SR 68 north of
Elberta.  There were also several Swainson's Hawks a LONG-BILLED CURLEW
and some Prong-horned Antelope along the paved road. 

We took the dirt/gravel Chimney Rock Road with its many four-wheelers,
and dirt bikes and made our first major stop just passed Chimney Rock. 
There we saw several BLACK-THROATED SPARROW'S, a bunch of Lark Sparrows
a NORTHERN MOCKING BIRD and a NASHVILLE WARBLER.  As we turned south
going towards Eureka through Homansville Pass, we saw some HORNED
LARKS, GRAY FLYCATCHER, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, along with some other less
note-worthy (but still interesting) birds. We crossed Highway 6 and
went around the more familiar "Dividend Loop" and saw an always
fun-to-see GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, and a few regulars and a nice male
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK at our last stop.  We saw about 38 species in the
blossoming Pinyon Juniper habitat and had a great time.  A good way to
spend a spring Saturday morning.

Milt Moody


       
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